Uncomfortable comment from a work colleague I don’t know

[JenJen94]

I’m a bit unsure how to feel after a comment made to me this morning - whether it’s right I’m creeped out or if I’m over-reacting.

Without being too outing, I work at the head office for a big national company so several thousand employees on site across the week and obviously I don’t know everyone.

I usually park in the same spot every morning (in office 3 days a week) and quite often a man is parked a few spots along who will start at a similar time to me. I don’t know him, never see him in the office or know what department he’s in etc.

Today, he was parked up before me but I saw he was sat in his car when I arrived. I got my stuff out and began to walk to the office. I heard him get out of his car about 15/20 seconds after I walked past.

I got stuck behind someone at the entrance to the office and he had caught up by that point. He said to me ‘got your legs out today then’ as I was wearing a skirt given the hot weather.

I smiled/sheepishly laughed and walked on into the office.

Is this creepy given I don’t know this person or is it just me?

This is quite different from the comment OP received.
He noticed her before (may or may or not be creepy) then made a comment about her normally covered legs, now being bare having never interacted with her. Maybe it was a just clumsy comment and is now kicking himself.

I hope this isn't flirtatious talk? I've said it to a school dad before now he wears shorts in all weather and I tell him he makes me feel cold his wife laughs so I thought it was OK

As a one off I'd ignore it. If something similar happens again, I'd be concerned.

I think the reason the comment is a bit off (even if that wasn’t his intention) is because OP has no idea who he is. He has no idea if she has her legs out all winter and not just a sunny day (unless he’s been noticing her). If her colleague Dave said it then it’s ok as it’s a bit of banter by a familiar person. It’s no different than a stranger coming up to you in the supermarket observing that you got your legs out because it’s hot.
You’d be thinking, sorry do I know you?

I’d give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it was a bit of small talk, unless he proves otherwise.

If a bloke was wearing shorts he might…

I imagine this wasn't the first words you ever had spoken to your postman.

I heard my 90 year old female neighbour say it to our postman on the first sunny day in March. He was wearing shorts. Should I report her? I am pretty certain she was just being friendly.

It is.

these threads always attract the weirdly easily offended🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

How old is he? Someone in their sixties might have been saying stuff like this all their life and just think nothing of it, if they are a fairly oblivious idiot who haven't noticed times changing.

Anyone younger really ought to know better.

Again different - you know him, you chat and make a joke. The dynamic between woman making a comment like this to a man is very different than vice versa. More so when the man is making a comment to a woman he does not know and specifically about a bare body part that is often sexualised in women (are you a leg man or breast man?)

This is a variation if a weather comment, but if you make a complaint you could destroy his career and his livelihood.

I don’t know him but I’m willing to bet he’s a creep.
He could have tried ‘nice day, isn’t it?’
YANBU to feel uncomfortable.

He could be like my ex. It’s just the sort of thing he’d say thinking he’s coming across as friendly. He has his faults but a creep to women he isn’t, but me and our adult sons do sometimes say gawd will you stop trying to be affable you have no clue. (He’s a high flying businessman but so damn socially awkward).

You have to be an idiot not to realise that a reasonable proportion of women are going to find this uncomfortable. Even if it's only 30%, and I suspect it's higher. Knowing that - and as I say unless you're an idiot, you have to know it - why on earth would you say it?

Not even vaguely creepy - same order as 'you got a bit of colour on your cheeks - spent the week-end in your garden?' Don't be actively on the lookout for creepiness and it won't come your way.

Wouldn't bother me. Probably just bring friendly but not the best idea if he doesn't know you,

Are you from the 70s?

Definitely a disgusting pervert. What did the police say?

This is hilarious.

I say it to the postie when he turns up in his shorts. Other than he's got 2 legs, I couldn't tell u a thing about his body, and my sex drive disappeared with my last period, so literally, not every comment about aesthetics is laden with innuendos and lust

Well, if said man was wearing shorts, then I might (and in fact I think I have!).
I've had it said to me, have said it myself. It's a non issue, surely, unless he starts making a habit of waiting for you and following you in, OP?

I have an in-law who is very high functioning ASD and this is exactly the sort of thing he would say to someone without thinking about the fact he’s never spoken to her before

Your last sentence is a bit problematic

I feel like it's a fairly innocuous comment, more about the weather than anything else.

You both arrive and see each other every day. You build up a camaraderie even if you don't talk. Once I changed jobs and stopped catching a certain bus, someone who I had always caught the bus with but never spoken to saw me elsewhere and asked what had happened because they noticed I was missing. I saw a post online about someone who fell asleep on their usual bus and everyone else woke them up for their stop because even though they never spoke, there was a familiarity there.

He quite possibly felt you had that same familiarity.

He quite likely would make a similar comment to a man in shorts who had the same situation

He didn't say "Hey got those sexy legs out for once" where he'd be making reference to OP's looks rather than just a general comment

Because it is weird and creepy?